Bead production method

Abstract

A method of forming a glass bead includes a step of hot working a first layer of molten glass on a mandrel. The method includes another step of fusing a first molten glass structure to the first layer of molten glass to form a fused workable piece. The first molten glass structure includes a first color. The method includes yet another step of forming the fused workable piece into the glass bead including the first color dispersed through the glass bead.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a glass bead according to the following steps:
 preheating a mandrel to a temperature of about 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit;   inserting a bit iron receiving a glass into a furnace to heat the glass into a first layer of molten glass;   delivering the first layer of molten glass to the mandrel with the bit iron;   spooling and hot working the first layer of molten glass around a mandrel by rotating the mandrel;   attaching a first glass structure to a feeder rod after the step of spooling and hot working the first layer of molten glass around the mandrel, wherein the first glass structure includes a first color, and wherein the first glass structure is substantially cylindrically shaped;   heating the first glass structure with a handheld torch to a temperature of about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit to form a first molten glass structure having the first color after the step of attaching the first glass structure to the feeder rod;   winding the first molten glass structure onto the first layer of molten glass;   fusing the first molten glass structure to the first layer of molten glass with the handheld torch to form a fused workable piece including the first color interspersed throughout the fused workable piece after the step of heating the first glass structure with the handheld torch;   heating the fused workable piece with the handheld torch to prepare for a step of receiving a second molten glass structure or a step of forming the fused workable piece into the glass bead;   attaching a second glass structure to the feeder rod, wherein the second glass structure includes a second color, and wherein the second glass structure is substantially cylindrically shaped;   heating the second glass structure with a handheld torch to a temperature of about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit to form a second molten glass structure having the second color after the step of attaching the second glass structure to the feeder rod;   winding the second molten glass structure at least one of the first layer of molten glass and the first molten glass structure; and   forming the fused workable piece into the glass bead including the first color interspersed through the glass bead, wherein the glass bead has a diameter in a range of about 2 to 3 inches, wherein the step of forming the fused workable piece into the glass bead includes the step of forming the fused workable piece into a solid sphere with an aperture extending therethrough, wherein the step of forming the fused workable piece into the glass bead includes the step of annealing the glass bead in an annealing oven, wherein the step of annealing the glass bead includes the following steps:
 first, disposing the glass bead in the annealing oven at about 918 degrees Fahrenheit for at least six hours; 
 second, dropping the temperature of the annealing oven to 770 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two hours; and 
 third, dropping the temperature to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 5 hours. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first molten glass structure includes a third color. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first molten glass structure includes a fourth color. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the fused workable piece into the glass bead includes using a bead forming manipulating tool, wherein the bead forming manipulating tool includes an elongate grip portion and an annular sphere shaping portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of annealing the glass bead further includes the following step:
 holding the temperature at 918 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two hours after disposing the glass bead in the annealing oven at about 918 degrees Fahrenheit for at least six hours and before dropping the temperature of the annealing oven to 770 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two hours.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of molten glass is clear. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glass bead is about 2.5 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of fusing a first molten glass structure to the first layer of molten glass to form a fused workable piece includes the step of cutting a piece of the first molten glass structure from the glass structure to separate the first molten glass structure from the glass structure to fuse the piece of the first molten glass structure to the first layer of molten glass. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a second layer of molten glass is disposed on the first layer of molten glass.